Some nations think they must have more and more babies, more and more people, if they are to remain strong and free.

Actually, this is not so. Very often in history, small nations have conquered large ones. It’s not so much the size of the army as its organization and the technical level of its weapons. Thus, Greece took over Persia in the 300s B.C., Great Britain took over India in the 1700s, even though Persia and India had far bigger population than Greece and Great Britain.

If a nation wishes to avoid being dominated by its neighbors, its best chance is to raise its standard of living and its level of technology.This can be done best by not allowing its population to grow to such a point that it is sunk in misery and poverty. In fact, the worst way in which a nation can try to avoid being dominated by its neighbor is to increase its population to the point of misery and poverty.

If every nation tries to compete with its neighbors by raising its population, then the whole world will be sunk in misery and poverty. The nations will become weak in a disaster that will leave nothing behind that is worth dominating. No one will have gained anything. Everyone will have lost everything.

Once all this is understood, and people generally agree that population growth must not be allowed to continue, they must also come to understand how that growth can be stopped. Population grows because more people are being born than are dying. There are two ways, then, in which the growth can be stopped. You can increase the number of people who die until it matches the number of people who are being born. Or else you can decrease the number of people who are born until it matches the number of people who are dying.

The first method—increasing the death rate—is the usual way in which population is controlled in all species of living things other than ourselves, but we don’t want that, for disaster lies that way. The intelligent way is to reduce the birth rate. But how can the birth rate be reduced?

1. In paragraph 3, the word “This” refers to ______.

A．avoidance of poverty                    B．improvement of life and technology

C．growth of population                     D．enhancement of living standard and competition

2. It can be inferred from the passage that if a country had fewer people, ______.

A．it could still remain strong                 B．it would be defeated by a strong neighbour

C．its standard of living could be high           D．its people would live misery

3. What might the author be further discussing after the passage?

A．Needs to balance population.              B．Problems involved in birth control.

C．Methods of decreasing population.          D．Opposition from some nations.

4. The passage mainly focuses on ______.

A．why we must control population            B．where we can find a solution

C．how to stop population growth             D．how to become a strong nation

Pride and Prejudice for the Modern Woman

Let us imagine how Pride and Prejudice, Jane Austen's most famous work, might be updated, 200 years on.

Austen's popularity is rooted in her intelligence. But today she would certainly have had a very different life, as would her characters. Here's my own suggestion. . .

It is a truth finally and universally acknowledged that a single woman with brains deserves to have equal opportunities to men, however disadvantaged she may feel by sexism.

" My dear husband," said his hopeful wife one day, " have you heard that the local store, standing empty for so long, is taken over by a bright young businesswoman?"

Her dull and indifferent (漠不关心的) husband replied that he had not. "But it is, it is," she replied excitedly. Mr Dull-Husband made no reply.

"Don't you want to know her plans?" she cried with some impatience.

"Well, clearly you think it matters to your silly little head. .. so I'd better listen. "

"Well, my dear, the rumour (传言) is that she has already set up a string of successful businesses in northern England, though how a woman can know anything about that is beyond me. She will move in herself next month. " "What is her name?" "Bingley. "

"Is she married or single?"

"What a question! And none of your business. But her coming will be a fine thing for our five boys. " "How so? How can it possibly affect them? "

"My dear love; those lazy boys need something to wake them up. There are bound to be jobs going. "

" Is that her point in settling here? Surely as a woman she has simply taken a fancy to the place. "

" Nonsense, my love, how little you've noticed the world has changed. She's got a first-rate degree and some sort of business qualification, I'm told. She surely needs one of our boys! Perhaps you might give her a call. "

" Me? No. Perhaps you can take an interest. You still have your looks, after all. She may even offer you a job. " "Oh, that's not likely. These new chances belong to the younger generation. But now you mention it, I think I'll go along all the same. "

And Mrs Bennet went along. That was 10 years ago. She is now managing director of a FTSE-listed company.

... It would remain the case, of course, that Mrs Bennet would be one of very few women on the company board, that her salary would be lower than her male colleagues, her bonus of a more "female" dimension and her lifespan (年限) among the city's business leaders shorter than theirs. Still, she'd no doubt have enjoyed Davos—and might even have hobnobbed (攀谈) with influential figures.

1.Which of the following is TRUE according to the passage?

A．Austen was born 200 years ago.

B．Austen rewrote Pride and Prejudice.

C．Austen's success lies in her wisdom.

D．Austen's updated work gains popularity.

2.The underlined part in the passage suggests that Mrs Bennet ____.

A．had mixed feelings of admiration and surprise about Bingley

B．felt kind of worried and doubtful about Bingley

C．was extremely anxious to meet Bingley

D．had a great curiosity about Bingley

3.In the eyes of Mrs Bennet, Bingley surely needed one of their boys to ____.

A．get married to                          B．work for her

C．help her move in                        D．take over her store

4.What does the writer intend to tell us?

A．Women with brains can also be as successful as men.

B．Women have to pay a high price for success.

C．A judgment must be made free from prejudice.

D．Sex discrimination still exists nowadays.

On his bench in Madison Square Soapy moved uneasily, and he realized the fact that the time had come for him to provide against the coming winter.

The winter ambitions of Soapy were not of the highest. In them there were no dreams of Mediterranean voyages or blue Southern skies. Three months on the Island was what his soul desired. Three months of assured board and bed and good company, safe from north winds seemed to Soapy the most desirable thing.

Just as the more fortunate New Yorkers had bought their tickets to Palm Beach each winter, Soapy had made his arrangements for his annual journey to the Island. And now the time had come.

There were many institutions of charity in New York where he might receive lodging and food, but to Soapy’s proud spirit the gifts of charity were undesirable. You must pay in humiliation of spirit for everything received at the hands of mercy. So it was better to be a guest of the law.

Soapy, having decided to go to the Island, at once set about accomplishing his desire. He left his bench and went up Broadway. He stopped at the door of a glittering cafe. He was shaven and his coat was decent. If he could reach a table in the restaurant, the portion of him that would show above the table would raise no doubt in the waiter’s mind. A roasted duck, with a bottle of wine, a cigar and a cup of coffee would be enough. Such a dinner would make him happy, for the journey to his winter refuge.

But as Soapy entered the restaurant door, the head waiter’s eye fell upon his shabby trousers and old shoes. Strong hands pushed him in silence and haste out into the street.

Some other way of entering the desirable refuge must be found.

At a corner of Sixth Avenue Soapy took a stone and sent it through the glass of a glittering shop window. People came running around the corner, a policeman at the head of them. Soapy stood still, with his hands in his pockets, and smiled at the sight of the policeman.

“Where is the man that has done that?” asked the policeman.

“Don’t you think that I have had something to do with it?” said Soapy, friendly.

The policeman paid no attention to Soapy. Men who break windows don’t remain to speak with policemen. They run away. He saw a man running and rushed after him, stick in hand. Soapy, disgusted, walked along, twice unsuccessful.

On the opposite side of the street was a restaurant for people with large appetites and modest purses. Soapy entered this place without difficulty. He sat at a table and ate beefsteak and pie. And then he told the waiter he had no money.

“Go and call a cop,” said Soapy. “And don’t keep a gentleman waiting.”

“No cop for you,” said the waiter. “Hey!”

Then Soapy found himself lying upon his left ear on the pavement. He arose with difficulty, and beat the dust from his clothes. Arrest seemed a rosy dream. The Island seemed far away.

After another unsuccessful attempt to be arrested for harassing a young woman, Soapy went further toward the district of theatres.

When he saw a policeman standing in front of a glittering theatre, he thought of “disorderly conduct”. On the sidewalk Soapy began to sing drunken songs at the top of his voice. He danced, cried, and otherwise disturbed the peace.

The policeman turned his back to Soapy, and said to a citizen, “It is one of the Yale boys celebrating their football victory. Noisy, but no harm.”

Sadly, Soapy stopped his useless singing and dancing. The Island seemed unattainable. He buttoned his thin coat against the north wind.

In a cigar store he saw a well-dressed man who had set his silk umbrella by the door. Soapy entered the store, took the umbrella, and went out with it slowly. The man with the cigar followed hastily.

“My umbrella,” he said.

“Oh, is it?” said Soapy. “Well, why don’t you call a policeman? I took your umbrella! Why don’t you call a cop? There stands one on the corner.”

The umbrella owner slowed his steps. Soapy did likewise. The policeman looked at them curiously.

“Of course,” said the umbrella man, “well, you know how these mistakes occur…if it’s your umbrella I hope you’ll excuse me – I picked it up this morning in a restaurant – if it’s yours, I hope you’ll…”

“Of course it’s mine,” said Soapy.

The ex-umbrella man retreated. The policeman hurried to help a well-dressed woman across the street.

Soapy threw the umbrella angrily. He was angry with the men who wear helmets and carry clubs. They seemed to regard him as a king who could do no wrong.

At last Soapy stopped before an old church on a quiet corner. Through one window a soft light glowed, where, the organist played a Sunday anthem. For there came to Soapy’s ears sweet music that caught and held him at the iron fence.

The moon was shining; cars and pedestrians were few; birds twittered sleepily under the roof. And the anthem that the organist played cemented Soapy to the iron fence, for he had known it well in the days when his life contained such things as mothers and roses and ambitions and friends.

The influence of the music and the old church produced a sudden and wonderful change in Soapy’s soul. He thought of his degraded days, dead hopes and wrecked faculties.

And also in a moment a strong impulse moved him to battle with his desperate fate. He would pull himself out of this pit; he would make a man of himself again. Those sweet notes had set up a revolution in him. Tomorrow he would be somebody in the world. He would…

Soapy felt a hand on his arm. He looked quickly around into the broad face of a policeman.

“What are you doing here?”

“Nothing.”

“Then come along,” said the policeman.

“Three months on the Island,” said the Judge the next morning.

1.Soapy regarded the Island as his winter ambition because _____.

A. he wanted to go on Mediterranean voyages and enjoy blue Southern skies

B. he wanted to spend the cold winter somewhere warm other than New York

C. he wanted to be put into prison to survive the coming winter

D. he wanted to buy a ticket to the Island to spend the cold winter

2.Which of the following is the reason for Soapy’s not turning to charity?

A. His pride gets in the way.

B. What the institutions of charity offer isn’t what Soapy needs.

C. He wants to be a citizen who obeys the law.

D. The institutions of charity are not located on the island.

3. How many times did Soapy try to accomplish his desire?

A. 4.                                       B. 5.                                       C. 6.                                       D. 7.

4. From the passage, we can see what the two restaurants have in common is that _____.

A. they are both fancy upper class restaurants

B. neither of them served Soapy

C. they both drove Soapy out of the restaurant after he finished his meal

D. neither of them called cops

5.Hearing the Sunday anthem at the church, Soapy _____.

A. was reminded of his good old days and wanted to play the anthem again

B. was reminded of his unaccomplished ambition and was determined to get to the Island

C. was reminded of his disgraceful past and determined to transform himself

D. was reminded of his rosy dream and wished to realize it

6.By ending the story this way, the author means to _____.

A. show that one always gets what he/she wants with enough efforts

B. make a contrast and criticize the sick society

C. surprise readers by proving justice was done after all

D. put a tragic end to Soapy’s life and show his sympathy for Soapy

I have learnt a lot about Chinese life and culture while teaching in Nanjing, Jiangsu Province and found them very interesting．

First, family life is quite   36   in China． In the USA, many young people   37   home after they finish their education and start working． However, in China, it is   38   for people to live with their parents until they get married．   39  , many of my Chinese friends told me that their  40   lived with them and helped take care of them when they were children． It seems that Americans think independence is more important   41   the Chinese think family relationships are more important．

Bargaining is another   42   that I have tried to learn． In the USA, prices are   43   and you can’t ask for a lower price． However in some small Chinese stores and tourist places, you are   44   to bargain． My Chinese friends taught me to ask for 40 percent or 50 percent   45   the original price． If the salesperson doesn’t agree to my price, I should   46   to leave and he might let me come back and sell me the item． It is a skill that you have to   47   if you live in China．

Tipping hasn’t been easier to   48  ． In the USA, many people in the service   49   want to get   50   money for serving customers． Tipping is not a part of Chinese culture．   51   I tried to tip a taxi driver． He looked a little   52   and refused to take the money．

In dinners, perhaps what surprises an American visitor most is that some of the Chinese hosts like to put food into the plates of their   53  ． Actually, this is a   54   of true friendship and politeness． My Chinese friend told me if I didn’t want to eat it, I should just   55   the food in the plate． 

1.A． unique            B． different       C． private         D． harmonious

2.A． come              B． build           C． leave           D． abandon

3.A． regular           B． true            C． common          D． usual

4.A． Also              B． However         C． Therefore       D． Although

5.A． parents           B． relatives       C． babysitters     D． grandparents

6.A． while             B． since           C． when            D． as

7.A． way               B． custom          C． lesson          D． habit

8.A． made              B． agreed          C． charged         D． set

9.A． expected          B． taught          C． suggested       D． required

10.A． up               B． away            C． off             D． on

11.A． promise          B． pretend         C． decide          D． hope

12.A． tolerate         B． understand      C． practise        D． consider

13.A． adjust to        B． turn to         C． refer to        D． stick to

14.A． area             B． department      C． branch          D． industry

15.A． easy             B． extra           C． pocket          D． prize

16.A． Often            B． Once            C． Sometimes       D． Before

17.A． excited         B． satisfied       C． frightened      D． confused

18.A． own              B． children        C． neighbors       D． guests   

19.A． signal           B． mark            C． sign            D． feature

20.A． leave            B． remain          C． put             D． taste

It was a normal Monday morning at an assembly(集会)．The headmaster was ?? ? ?? the students on important things in life and about?? ? ? ourselves to what is important to us．This is?? ? ? the story went: An old man lived in a certain part of London．He would wake up every morning and go to the?? ? ?? and would get the train right to Central London，and then sit at the street corner and beg．

He did this every single?? ? ? for almost 20 years．His house was dirty and a stench(恶臭) came out of the house and it smelled horribly．The neighbors could not stand the?? ? ? any-more，so they asked the police officers to clear the place．The officers?? ? ?? the door and cleaned the house．There were small bags of?? ? ? all over the house that he had collected over the years．The police ?? ? ?? the money，and soon realized that the old man was a(n)?? ? ? ．They waited outside，expecting to share the good news with him．

When he arrived home that evening，he was?? ? ? by one of the officers who told him that

there was no need for him to beg any more ?? ? ?? he was a rich man now. He said?? ? ?? ,went into his house and locked the door．The next morning he woke up ?? ? ?? ,went to the subway, got into the train，and sat at the street comer and?? ? ?? to beg.

?? ? ?? , this old man had no great plans，dreams or anything?? ? ?? for his life．We learn nothing from this story?? ? ?? staying focused on the things we enjoy doing，commitment. We should remain ?? ? ?? to our course. Just keep it in mind that commitment ?? ? ?? wealth

1.A．scolding???????? B．consulting????????? C．addressing?????? D．advising

2.A．exposing??????? B．committing???????? C．comparing?????? D．connecting

3.A．how??????????? B．why?????????????? C．where?????????? D．when

4.A．market????????? B．office????????????? C．subway????????? D．shelter

5.A．hour??????????? B．day??????????????? C．week??????????? D．month

6.A．smell?????????? B．house?????????????? C． man?????????? D．police

7.A．knocked at?????? B．knocked over??????? C．broke up???????? D．broke into

8.A．money????????? B．waste?????????????? C．food??????????? D．fish

9.A．kept??????????? B．took??????????????? C．counted???????? D．presented

10.A．beggar????????? B．thief??????????????? C．officer????????? D．millionaire

11.A．caught????????? B．met??????????????? C．warned????????? D．questioned

12.A．though????????? B．unless????????????? C．until??????????? D．as

13.A．nothing????????? B．anything?????????? C．something??????? D．everything

14.A．as well????????? B．as early???????????? C．as usual???????? D．as much

15.A．determined?????? B．continued?????????? C．managed??????? D．hesitated

16.A．Eventually?????? B．Fortunately????????? C．Generally?????? D．Obviously

17.A．precious???????? B．complex??????????? C．available??????? D．significant

18.A．rather than?????? B．other than?????????? C．more than?????? D．less than

19.A．honest????????? B．open?????????????? C．true??????????? D．equal

20.A．attracts???????? B．keeps?????????????? C．loses?????????? D．possesses